Libertarian Party Scores Biggest Ever Election Win

The Libertarian Party scored its biggest ever mayoral election win on Tuesday, as Lily Wu was elected mayor for Wichita, Kansas.

As state elections took place across the country on November 7, Wu defeated Democratic incumbent Brandon Whipple by 35,859 to 25,557 votes, according to local reports.

The party, which was formed in 1971 and supports laissez-faire capitalism and civil liberties, is the third-largest American party by voter registration. Its website says: "Libertarians strongly oppose any government interference into their personal, family, and business decisions."

There are eight other Libertarian mayors in the U.S., the party website says. They are Anthony Keiper, mayor for Southmont Borough, Pennsylvania; Aron Lam, the Keenesburg, Colorado mayor; Cassaundra Fryman, mayor for Plymouth, Ohio; Gina Kaetzel, mayor for Thornville, Ohio; Steve McCluskey, the mayor for Mclain, Mississippi; James Setzer, mayor of Austin, Pennsylvania; Lon Myers, mayor of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania; and Rob Green, Cedar Falls, Iowa mayor.

With a population of almost 400,000, according to latest available census data, Wichita is now the biggest city represented by a Libertarian. The second-biggest city held by a Libertarian is Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a population of 40,000.

Meanwhile, the population for Jersey Shore is around 4,000, while the populations for Southmont, Keenesburg and Plymouth are all around 2,000. The Thornville population is about 1,000 and in Austin and McLain there are fewer than 500 residents.

Since its creation, 10 Libertarians have been elected to state legislatures. The most recent candidate was Marshall A. Burt, who represented Wyoming's 39th district from 2021 to 2023.

Wu is also the second woman to win a citywide election for mayor and will be the first person of Asian descent to hold the office.

Upon winning, she thanked her supporters in an interview with the Wichita Eagle.

"First and foremost, I want to say thank you to those who voted for me," she said. "But also thank you to those who did not vote for me because I'm going to work hard to earn your trust – because we need to do this together to make Wichita a better place. It's not just going to be with Lily Wu supporters but also with Brandon Whipple supporters."

She added to Newsweek: "Our win last night wasn't a victory for a political party — it was a victory for Wichita. Our community spoke loud and clear. They want a solution to our police staffing crisis, fiscal accountability, and a local government correctly focused on its appropriate and limited role in their daily lives. Last night was a mandate for change and I look forward to working with the City Council to deliver these results for the people of Wichita."

Her win came on a busy day for votes across the country. The Ohio electorate voted for a constitutionally protected right to abortion in a referendum, while the Democrats saw wins in the Virginia state Senate and the Kentucky governorship.

The results for Wichita won't be official until November 16, and Wu will be sworn in on January 9.

Update 11/09/23 at 3:45 a.m. ET; This article was updated with further comments from Wu.